Letter to the Editor: Who is the better economic manager?

DEAR News Of The Area,

I acknowledge Pat Congahan MP for his statement in last week’s edition (Port Macquarie NOTA, 27 June).

He clearly knows how vulnerable this electorate is after two close elections. However his claims regarding Labor’s economic management cannot go unchallenged.

Inflation has been tamed, interest rates cut, a third budget surplus is possible, wages are growing, and a genuine attempt at fair and effective tax reform and lifting productivity is underway.

There can be no doubt who is now best at managing the economy – the Albanese Labor government.

During nine years of Coalition government we lost Australia’s car industry, witnessed the lowest level of business investment in 20 years, and watched in alarm as they infuriated China so trade in beef, barley and wine was brought to a halt.

On top of that, the Coalition gave us years of stagnant wages, productivity at a 60-year low, a housing crisis, and no action on climate change which is now costing billions in insurance and compensation payments.

Under the Nationals we endured inflation above 6 per cent, high interest rates, and the biggest debt and deficit disaster ever, with the budget $80 billion in the red and national debt nearly $1 trillion, costing $20 billion every year to service.

They wasted $28 billion on JobKeeper paying companies that didn’t need it and never paid it back, and their war on TAFE resulted in 20,000 fewer apprenticeships which are now desperately needed to build more houses.

Thanks to the Nationals the Coalition never landed an energy policy, resulting in higher electricity prices, and let’s never forget the unlawful and iniquitous Robodebt causing untold misery to thousands of innocent Australians.

Now all they do is vote No to Labor’s cost of living measures and tax cuts.

Is it any wonder the public finally woke up to which party is the better economic manager?!

Regards,
Harry CREAMER,
Port Macquarie.